Apparatus for controlling access to and use of portable electronic devices

Abstract

Various prison services are rendered more efficient by providing inmates access to portable electronic devices in a controlled and regulated manner. A dispenser is employed to control and monitor the checking out and return of portable electronic devices and to communicate with such devices during use by inmates to monitor inmate use and ensure the portable electronic devices are only used by inmates as authorized.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable electronic device dispensing system comprising:
 a controller including a processor and a memory; and 
 a storage compartment sized to receive a portable electronic device, the storage compartment including:
 a light sensor; 
 a weight sensor; and 
 an identification sensor; 
 
 wherein the controller is configured to:
 compare received weight data from the weight sensor with stored weight data stored in the memory; 
 determine that the received weight data differs from the stored weight data; and 
 in response to determining that the received weight data differs from the stored weight data, actuate an alarm. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The portable electronic device dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the light sensor is configured to detect a light characteristic within the compartment and the identification sensor is a device identifier configured to read an identification of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
       3. The portable electronic device dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the device identifier is a bar code sensor configured to read a bar code tag attached to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
       4. The portable electronic device dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the device identifier is a radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor configured to read a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
       5. The portable electronic device dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the device identifier is a wireless communicator configured to read a coded identification signal periodically transmitted via a wireless communicator of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
       6. The portable electronic device dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment further includes:
 an access door movable between a closed position preventing access to the compartment and an open position permitting access to the compartment, the controller configured to control the access door; 
 an electronic lock for selectively locking the door when the door is in the closed position, the controller configured to control the electronic lock; 
 a door sensor for sensing the position of the door, the controller configured to read the door sensor. 
 
     
     
       7. The portable electronic device dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment further includes a battery charging device configured to charge a battery of the portable electronic device within the compartment. 
     
     
       8. The portable electronic device dispensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the battery charging device is configured to use a wired connection to charge the battery of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
       9. The portable electronic device dispensing system of  claim 8 , wherein the wired connection is further configured to transmit data between the controller and the portable electronic device. 
     
     
       10. A system for managing distribution of portable electronic devices, the system comprising:
 a portable electronic device dispensing unit configured to securely encase and selectively dispense a portable electronic device; 
 a database configured to store user data specifying access permissions and portable electronic device data; and 
 a server communicatively coupled to the portable electronic device dispensing unit and the database, the server configured to:
 monitor received access requests at the portable electronic device dispensing unit; 
 compare identification data received in an access request with the user data stored in the database; 
 in response to the comparing, enable access to a program installed on a portable electronic device according to the access permissions specified in the user data; and 
 in response to the enabling, transmit a control signal to the portable electronic device dispensing unit to dispense the portable electronic device. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the user data includes data identifying a time period including a start time and an end time during which the user is permitted to use the portable electronic device, and the server is further configured to control the portable electronic device dispensing unit to dispense the portable electronic device only during the time period. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the portable electronic device dispensing unit is configured to generate a return event signal in response to detecting that the portable electronic device has been returned to the portable electronic device dispensing unit, and wherein the server is further configured to:
 receive the return event signal; and 
 generate an alert in response to detecting that the return event signal has not been received by the end time of the time period. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 disable media content stored on the portable electronic device such that the media content is inaccessible to the user before the portable electronic device is dispensed to the user based on the user data. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 enable media content stored on the portable electronic device such that the media content is accessible to the user before the portable electronic device is dispensed to the user based on the user data. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of monitoring usage of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
 securely encasing the portable electronic device; 
 authenticating a user; 
 querying a portable electronic device management system to retrieve the rights of the user; 
 determining that the user has rights to use the portable electronic device based on the rights of the user retrieved by the querying; 
 enabling access to a program installed on the portable electronic device according to the rights of the user retrieved by the querying; 
 dispensing the portable electronic device from the portable electronic device dispensing system; 
 in response to the dispensing, determining that the portable electronic device is not located in the portable electronic device dispensing system; and 
 in response to the determining, recording in a database that the portable electronic device is not located in the portable electronic device dispensing system. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the authenticating a user includes sensing biometric data of the user using a biometric sensor and comparing the sensed biometric data to a database of biometric data of users to authenticate the user. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 periodically taking a screen shot of the portable electronic device and storing the screen shot in a screen shot database located remotely from the portable electronic device. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing network communications for the portable electronic device via an internet access gateway located within the portable electronic device dispensing system, the internet access gateway configured to monitor and control all network communications to and from the portable electronic device. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving the portable electronic device in the portable electronic device dispensing system; 
 in response to the receiving, determining that the portable electronic device is located in the portable electronic device dispensing system; and 
 recording in a database that the portable electronic device is located in the portable electronic device dispensing system. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the dispensing the portable electronic device from the portable electronic device dispensing system further includes configuring the electronic device for usage by the user prior to the dispensing.